The Wellness Coalition has been recognized by The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) for its diabetes prevention and self-management programs.

CDC provides recognition for organizations that deliver evidence-based type 2 diabetes prevention programs in communities across the United States. Such programs have agreed to use a CDC-approved curriculum that meets the duration, intensity, and reporting requirements described in the CDC Diabetes Prevention Recognition Program Standards and Operating Procedures (DPRP Standards). Full recognition, which was awarded to The Wellness Coalition, means that a program has demonstrated effectiveness by achieving all the performance criteria detailed in the DPRP Standards.

“We have worked diligently to meet the standards set forth by The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention,” said Martine Rocker, diabetes program coordinator for The Wellness Coalition. “This recognition is a great step toward accomplishing our goal of decreasing the prevalence of diabetes in Central Alabama counties.”

The Wellness Coalition offers two diabetes programs in Autauga, Elmore, Lowndes, Macon, and Montgomery counties at no cost to participants:

Diabetes Self-Management Program

In this program, participants learn techniques to deal with the symptoms of diabetes including fatigue, pain, high and low blood glucose, stress, and emotional problems such as depression, anger, fear, and frustration. Other topics covered in the program will help participants learn how to plan a healthy meal, appropriate exercise for maintaining and improving strength and endurance, and how to work effectively with health care providers.

Diabetes Prevention Program

This program—the first of its kind in the River Region—is designed for individuals who are at risk of developing diabetes. Prevention or delay of the onset of diabetes is achieved by teaching healthy lifestyle skills. A coach teaches participants how to eat healthy foods and increase safe physical activity over the course of a year. Since the program’s inception in 2017, nearly 3 out of 4 participants have met or exceeded the goal of reducing 5-7% of their body weight to reduce the risk of developing diabetes.

Statistics

According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention:

  • More than 30 million people in the United States have diabetes, and 1 in 4 of them don’t know they have it.
  • More than 84 million US adults—1 in 3—have prediabetes, and 90% of them don’t know they have it.
  • Prediabetes is a risk factor for type 2 diabetes. Being overweight, being age 45 or older, and being physically active less than 3 times a week are risk factors for prediabetes and type 2 diabetes.
  • In 2017, the total estimated cost of diagnosed diabetes was $327 billion.

Some people are at higher risk of type 2 diabetes because they:

  • Are overweight or have obesity
  • Are age 45 or older
  • Have a parent, brother, or sister with type 2 diabetes
  • Are physically active less than 3 times a week
  • Had gestational diabetes (diabetes during pregnancy) or gave birth to a baby who weighed more than 9 pounds
  • Are African American, Hispanic or Latino, American Indian, Alaska Native, Pacific Islander, or Asian American

“No matter what risk factors a person faces, diabetes doesn’t have to be their destiny,” said Rocker. “Our CDC-recognized diabetes programs address each person as an individual as we provide tools, encouragement, and support to help them overcome those risk factors.”

The Wellness Coalition is currently accepting enrollment into both of its diabetes programs. Interested parties should call (334) 293-6502 or visit thewellnesscoalition.org/classes to learn more.